SHAKERS midfield star Nick Daws has been offered a new 'mega-money' deal which will make him the highest paid player at the club.

Chairman Terry Robinson and manager Neil Warnock spent a full day hammering out the improved offer in a bid to keep the ever-present 29-year-old at Gigg Lane and have thrown in the club captaincy as an extra sweetener.

Daws still has two years remaining on his contract but is wanted by ex-boss Stan Ternent at Burnley.

The wealthy Turf Moor club could top anything the Shakers have to offer, however any bid to reunite the player with Lennie Johnrose may collapse over a transfer fee.

Bury, working under even tighter financial restraints in the wake of owner Hugh Eaves' problems, are likely to want around £500,000 for the midfield king pin.

Burnley, however, will hope to prise him away for a similar figure to Johnrose, who went for £220,000 in February.

With the Shakers resigned to losing Chris Lucketti and Dean Kiely after relegation from Division One, Warnock is desperate to keep hold of one of his major assets.

"We have offered Nick a good increase in wages to match the responsibility of being captain and we hope he will agree to take on the role," said Warnock.

"He would become the top wage earner in the first team squad and he deserves it. "I know there are other attractions around but I hope he decides to give us at least another season. Nick is ambitious and wants to play at a higher level, that is why I don't want him to leave Bury for another Division Two club."

Warnock this week released Tony Rigby and John Foster and slapped Nigel Jemson, Andy Preece, Adrian Littlejohn and Brian Linighan on the transfer list.

A fee will be required for Littlejohn, whom Warnock has described as a 'huge disappointment', with the others allowed to leave on a free.

Steve Redmond, Kemajl Avdiu and West have all been offered new deals, although West will almost certainly join Burnley.

Of the younger players, Martyn Forrest, Danny Swailes, Matt Barrass and Lee Buggie have also been offered contracts.

Chris Swailes was crowned player of the year at Bury Supporters' Association's prize night on Monday. Kiely was second with Lucketti third. The Disabled Supporters' Association winner was Kiely, with Lucketti runner-up.

Goal of the season went to Darren Bullock for his wonder strike against Sunderland and there was a special award for Daws for his amazing record of three seasons without missing a game.

The message board on the club's internet site has been temporarily closed down after a barrage of hostile, unprintable attacks on manager Neil Warnock and major shareholder Hugh Eaves.

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